Luska Lad back on track

It is amazing what one below-par run can do to the betting public's view of a horse and there is little doubt that without a poor effort at Thurles to his name a fortnight back, Luska Lad would have been a short-priced favourite for the Chia Booster Novice Hurdle.

Anyway, despite going off joint second favourite with his stable companion, Western Leader behind 7/4 market-leader, Gallant Light Luska Lad made all. He stayed on well under pressure from before the last to beat the favourite by four and a half lengths with Western Leader (7/2 into 2/1) a never dangerous four and a half lengths further back in third.

John 'Shark' Hanlon trainer of both the winner and the third, said: "He was an unbelievable price! I was disappointed with him the last day but that was the only bad run of his life. Andrew (McNamara) said he enjoyed being in front today. He'll go to Leopardstown at Christmas."

McNamara was completing a double having earlier scored on his boss, Edward O'Grady's Alaivan